Method and system to model materials for use in articles, such as tampons

ABSTRACT

A modeling method for a fibrous material to be made into a product, which may be but one example of a family of such modeling methods, includes analyzing processes and conditions under which the fibrous material is made into the product, determining that moisture, temperature and rate conditions should be tested according to the analysis of the processes and conditions, and testing the fibrous material under at least one of moisture, thermal or rate conditions similar to those under which the fibrous material is made into the product to obtain test results. The modeling method further includes defining a constitutive model for the fibrous material according to the test results. A computing device may be programmed to perform simulations using the model.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to a method and a system for modeling materials for use in articles, such as tampons, including a method and a computerized system for modeling materials for use in such articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In an exemplary manner, one may consider a product, for instance, a tampon. Generally, a tampon is a piece of fibrous material that is shaped to be insertable into a body cavity, such as, for example, a vagina or nasal cavity. According to certain embodiments, the tampon is disposed in a tube-shaped applicator prior to use, although an applicator need not be included in all applications. Typically, the user positions the tampon in the appropriate body cavity, and then disposes of the applicator, if used.

Despite the fact that tampons have been in use for a considerable amount of time, advancements in the materials and the processes used to make tampons have generally come about as a consequence of experimental “trial and error.” That is, to the extent that one may believe that a new material or a variation in a process condition may lead to a superior tampon product, the conventional method has been to fabricate a tampon using the new material or process step, and then subject the tampon thus fabricated to testing. The testing typically has been qualitative in nature, and success or failure may be based on little more than the volume of liquid absorbed. If testing does not bear out initial optimism, then the designer would start the process anew with a different material or process variation.

Even if testing suggests that the tampon made using the new material or the new process may be superior to past tampons, not every such improvement necessarily results in a commercially feasible product. A design considered successful under laboratory conditions might prove difficult or expensive to fabricate under actual processing conditions or when manufactured using conventional fabrication equipment. Therefore, even if the design showed positive performance under test conditions, the designer might have to start over from scratch after field trials are performed.

This type of iterative design process is expensive in terms of money, material and time.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a system or a method that simulates the behavior of the material that is made into a tampon. It would be desirable to provide a system or a method that simulates the behavior of material that is made into a tampon by way of a computer model. In a more general sense, it would be desirable to have a method and a system for modeling materials that are made into a variety of products, of which the tampon is but one product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a modeling method for a fibrous material to be made into a tampon product. The modeling method includes analyzing processes and conditions under which the fibrous material is made into the tampon product, determining that moisture, temperature and rate conditions should be tested according to the analysis of the processes and conditions, and testing the fibrous material under at least one of moisture, thermal or rate conditions similar to those under which the fibrous material is made into the tampon product to obtain test results. The modeling method further includes defining a constitutive model for the fibrous material according to the test results.

In another aspect, a modeling system for a fibrous material to be made into a tampon product. The modeling system includes a computing device, with a processor and a data storage device, and a constitutive model for the fibrous material. The constitutive model is stored in the data storage device, and includes a relationship between one of stress and deformation or stress rate and rate of deformation, a yield criterion, a plastic flow rule, and an evolution equation defined according to test results from testing performed on the fibrous material under at least one of moisture, temperature or rate conditions similar to those under which the fibrous material is made into the tampon product to obtain test results. The computing device is programmed to perform simulations using the constitutive model to determine the state of stress for an arbitrary deformation path.

In a further aspect, a modeling method for a material to be made into a product. The modeling method includes analyzing processes and conditions under which the material is made into the product, determining test environmental conditions under which the material should be tested according to the analysis of the processes and conditions, and testing the material under test environmental conditions to obtain test results. The modeling method also includes defining a constitutive model for the material according to the test results.

In a still further aspect, a modeling system for a material to be made into a product. The modeling system includes a computing device, comprising a processor and a data storage device, and a constitutive model for the material. The constitutive model is stored in the data storage device, and includes a relationship between one of stress and deformation or stress rate and rate of deformation, a yield criterion, a plastic flow rule, and an evolution equation defined according to test results from testing performed on the material under environmental conditions similar to those under which the material is made into the product to obtain test results. The computing device is programmed to perform simulations using the constitutive model to determine the state of stress for an arbitrary deformation path.

Additional aspects of the disclosure are defined by the claims of this patent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Some of the figures may have been simplified by the omission of selected elements for the purpose of more clearly showing other elements. Such omissions of elements in some figures are not necessarily indicative of the presence or absence of particular elements in any of the exemplary embodiments, except as may be explicitly delineated in the corresponding written description. None of the drawings are necessarily to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compression machine, a push rod, and a joined sleeve cavity mold;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a split cavity mold;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the split cavity mold;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, perspective view of the joined sleeve cavity mold;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method to model a material that is made into a tampon product;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method to model a material that is made into a product; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic of a system for carrying out the method of modeling a material that is made into a product, such as a tampon product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of a method for modeling materials for use in products, such as tampons, is now discussed with reference to FIGS. 1-5. According to this exemplary embodiment, a model is defined for a fibrous material that is made into a tampon product.

Thus it is that the method of defining a model for the fibrous material that is made into a tampon may involve certain preliminary steps and empirical steps. That is, in defining the model, the processes which the fibrous material undergoes and the conditions under which these processes are conducted may first be considered. As a consequence of this preliminary consideration, a series of tests may be outlined to gather measurements of the material under the conditions identified in the preliminary consideration (or test results). The test results may then be used to define a model, which may be a constitutive model, as explained in greater detail below. The model may include one or more coupled equations, which equations may be capable of being solved numerically. It may be desired to modify this model according to measurements taken during the testing, which modifications may be in the form of variations, including coefficients. The result of the process is a model defined for the fibrous material in question.

Therefore, as discussed above relative to the exemplary embodiment, initial consideration is given to the processes and environmental and process conditions under which the fibrous material is formed into a tampon. While certain ranges may be referred to herein, it will be recognized that the disclosure of the ranges should be understood to include the individual values within the ranges as well as subranges within the disclosed ranges. In fact, where subranges are particularly referenced, these subranges are disclosed for purposes of illustration, but not by way of limitation, of the broader ranges within which they are located.

The method of making a tampon generally begins with a pledget. As used herein, the terms “pledget” or “tampon pledget” are intended to be interchangeable and refer to a construction of absorbent material prior to compression of such construction into a tampon. Tampon pledgets are sometimes referred to as a tampon blank, a softwind, or a pad, and the term “pledget” is intended to include such terms as well.

The pledget may be of a variety of shapes, sizes, materials and constructions. For instance, the pledget may be rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, semi-circular, chevron-shaped, H-shaped, bowtie-shaped, or cylindrical. The pledget may be constructed from a similarly wide variety of liquid-absorbing materials, including synthetic and natural fibers in woven and nonwoven materials, including cotton, rayon, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene and combinations thereof. The pledget may also include incorporated materials, such as superabsorbent materials including superabsorbent polymers or gelling materials and the like. The pledget may be defined by a single material having a single density, or may be defined by a material with a varying density or thickness. Further, the tampon pledget may be of a laminar structure including at least one intermediate layer disposed between two outer layers. Further variants for the pledget are described in U.S. Publication Nos. 2003/0172504 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,070.

The tampon pledget may be go through a preliminary forming step, be compressed to form a substantially cylindrical form, and then set into the final product form in a mold.

In the preliminary forming step, the pledget may be rolled, spirally wound, or folded. Folding is characterized by at least one bend at least in a portion of the tampon pledget such that the relevant portion of the tampon pledget is positioned in a different plane than before, with the observation that the surface regions near the bend are in a different distal and angular relationship to each other after the folding has taken place. There may exist one or more bends of folds of generally 180 degrees such that the surface regions on either side of the bend may be juxtaposed or even in co-facial contact with each other.

The preliminarily-formed pledget may then be disposed into a compressing element. See FIG. 1. The compressing element is designed to compress the incoming pledget into a generally cylindrical shape. Compressing refers to pressing, compacting, or squeezing together or to reduce in size or volume as if by squeezing. The product of this process step is a fiber body with a high aspect ratio, i.e., a shape in which the length is greater than the diameter or width of the shape; this product may or may not contain defined circles or arcs.

For example, with reference to FIG. 1, compression may be accomplished by placing the pledget into a compression jaw 150, which may be referred to as a cross-die for flat pledgets. Initially, inner surface of the first and second pieces are spaced relative to each other. When the compression jaw is actuated, the first and second pieces are moved so that the inner surfaces are no longer spaced, but are generally abutting each other, with the preliminary-formed pledget disposed between the two pieces. The movement of the jaw may take about 0.2 seconds or less. As mentioned above, the pledget is compressed into a fiber body having a high aspect ratio shape, although other shapes are possible (e.g., rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, and semi-circular).

A typical cross die will typically have an open width of between about 50 and about 120 mm, and close to between about 10 and about 18 mm. The tampon pledget may have a lateral dimension of between about 50 and about 80 mm aligned to the closing direction of the cross die. Thus, closure will strain the pledget in this direction between about 25 and about 85%, more typically between about 50 and about 85%, or even between about 70 and about 85%. For typical tampon making rates, the accompanying compression rate can be between about 350 and about 600 mm/s, which can translate into a strain rate of between about 6/s and about 17/s. The pledget density of about 0.05 to about 0.1 g/cc will thus increase to between about 0.3 and about 0.5 g/cc for the cylindrically shaped compressed fiber body, in a typical application.

The fiber body may then be transferred into a tampon-forming mold, although a fixed-pressure device could also be used. See FIGS. 2 and 3. In the forming mold, the tampon sets to a desired shape and dimension, such that the final tampon is able to remain in a self-sustaining form. The ability to remain in a self-sustaining form refers to the degree to which the tampon retains the compression applied to the absorbent material of the tampon pledget such that in the subsequent absence of the external forces, the resulting tampon will retain its general shape and size. For example, the resulting tampon's total volume growth subsequent to removal of the external forces may be no greater than about 50% of the external force-restrained shape. According to certain embodiments, growth may be less than about 25%, while in still other embodiments is may not exceed about 10% of the external force-restrained shape when observed at ambient room conditions of about 22 C.-24 C. and about 50% relative humidity.

The compressed fiber body is transferred into the transfer end (or ingress port) of a mold 160, for example a split cavity mold (see FIGS. 1-4), using a transfer member 170, such as a push rod (see FIG. 1), which may affect the transfer in about 0.2 seconds or less. A pushrod will generally be sized smaller than the cross die and mold diameters, and may be shaped on the tip. In addition to transferring the fiber body to the mold 160, the pushrod 170 may be used to axially compress the tampon in the mold. For a typical process, and laterally compressed fiber body may start with an initial length of between about 40 and about 100 mm, and be axially compressed within the mold 60 to between about 25 and about 50 mm, resulting in a strain of between about 25 and about 75%. At typical tampon making rates, the pushrod will create a compression rate of about 500 mm/s, which may translate into a strain rate of between about 4/s and about 14/s. Given the annulus formed between the push rod and the cross die and mold parts, shearing may also occur within the material.

While sometimes that tampon can become self-sustained under the pressures and constraints of the mold itself, the process may be conducted under controlled temperature conditions to assist the process. Specifically, the setting of the tampon may be assisted by the introduction of heat, which heat-setting may occur while the tampon is at least partially inside the mold. The heat may be introduced by one method or another, e.g., thermal temperature gradient conduction, microwave heating, radio-frequency heating, infrared heating, gas heating (hot air, steam) etc. Typical header (conductive heating) temperatures are about 260 C., and the header (not shown) may be in contact with the end of the fiber body for between about 0.1 and about 0.15 seconds. Moreover, the mold temperature may be between about 130 C. and about 170 C. for about 15 seconds. The consequence of the heating step may be that the temperature of the fiber is between about 25 C. and about 200 C.

In addition to the heating, moisture may be added. As a consequence, the heat-setting may be accompanied by control of the internal moisture of the tampon, either through pre-humidification or pre-drying, to control the overall resultant self-sustaining behavior of the tampon. For example, steam may be introduced for between about 0.5 and about 1 second. The steam will add between about 1% and about 3% moisture to the tampon in the first 0.5 second. Thereafter, the moisture added may dissipate through further steam treatment and subsequent heating periods. Fiber moisture levels of between about 5% and about 15%, on a dry weight basis, are desirable.

Thus, in summary, the range of densities of the pledget/tampon throughout the processing of the material may be generally between about 0.05 g/cc and about 0.8 g/cc, although, in zones, the density may vary significantly from that in other zones, and may assume values above about 1.0 g/cc. Pledgets that begin at a lower density range of nominally about 0.05 g/cc to about 0.1 g/cc may be strained to a higher density on average because of the processing steps, such as with lateral compression and axial compression steps. The density even beyond the final density if overcompressing is utilized. In such cases, the density may approach higher levels, 0.6 g/cc to 0.8 g/cc, for example, and then decrease to some lower value, 0.4 g/cc to 0.6 g/cc, for example, as the fiber rebounds from the overcompression. Maximum densities through the process can thus be achieved because of overcompression coupled with localized zones of density that can result in densities above 1.0 g/cc.

From these preliminary considerations, it may be determined that the fibrous material experiences loading in tension, compression and shear as it is formed into a tampon. It may also be determined that moisture, temperature and processing rate are significant for consideration in the definition of the general form of the model and for any variations to the general model. Thus, it may be determined that the fibrous material should be tested for mechanical response (i.e., stress, strain) under tensile, compressive, and shear loadings, with variations in moisture, temperature, and rate conditions. In fact, one or more test matrices may be prepared to guide the testing.

As one such example, the following test matrix may be used to obtain measurements of a tampon-making material under a controlled moisture and temperature conditions:

Material Total Test mode Strain (in %) Types Reps Tests Tension, TD 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 6 3 18 45, 50 Tension, MD 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 6 3 18 45, 50 Tension, Out of 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 6 3 18 Plane Comp., TD 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 6 3 18 Comp., MD 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 6 3 18 Comp., Out of 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 6 3 18 Plane Shear, TD, 20% 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 6 3 18 Comp. Shear, TD, 50% 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 6 3 18 Comp. Shear, TD, 85% 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 6 3 18 Comp. Shear, MD, 20% 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 6 3 18 Comp. Shear, MD, 50% 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 6 3 18 Comp. Shear, MD, 85% 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 6 3 18 Comp. In this table, TD is Transverse Direction, MD is Machine Direction, Comp. is Compression, and Out of Plane refers to the thickness or z-direction. The measurements would be taken at room temperature (about 22 C.-24 C.).

It will be recognized that similar or other measurements could be taken at varying moisture conditions (contents) and at varying thermal conditions (temperatures). Further, it will be recognized that similar measurements could be taken for a variety of processing conditions at a variety of rates.

For example, the following test matrix may be used to obtain measurements with shear as a function of compression for a tampon-making material at varying moisture conditions:

Moisture (in Test mode Strain (in %) %) Shear, TD, 20% Comp. 20, 40, 60, 80, 90 5, 10, 15 Shear, TD, 50% Comp. 20, 40, 60, 80, 90 5, 10, 15 Shear, TD, 85% Comp. 20, 40, 60, 80, 90 5, 10, 15 Shear, MD, 20% Comp. 20, 40, 60, 80, 90 5, 10, 15 Shear, MD, 50% Comp. 20, 40, 60, 80, 90 5, 10, 15 Shear, MD, 85% Comp. 20, 40, 60, 80, 90 5, 10, 15 In this table, TD is Transverse Direction, MD is Machine Direction, and Comp. is Compression. The measurements may be taken at room temperature (about 22 C.-24 C.), although the same tests may be performed at other temperatures, or at a plurality of different temperatures, as desired, to generate additional test results. Preferably, a fresh sample may be used at each moisture level (and at each temperature level, if more than one temperature level is used), although the same sample may be used over the included range of strain values, with the sample run to gradually increasing levels of strain.

The moisture content may be determined according to the following fashion. A series of experiments may be performed on the sample material to determine an adsorption curve and a desorption curve for the material, thereby generating a sorption isotherm for the material. These experiments may be conducted at a single temperature, or a plurality of temperatures. From the sorption isotherm, approximate humidity settings may be determined to result in an about 5%, 10%, or 15% moisture content in the material at equilibrium. The sample may then be conditioned in a humidity chamber at the desired humidity setting prior to use in the testing. Other methods may be used in the alternative.

As another example of the other measurements possible, the following test matrix may be used to obtain stress relaxation measurements for a tampon-making material at varying thermal conditions, strains and moisture conditions:

Temperature (in Moisture (in Test mode C.) Strain (in %) %) Shear RT, 60, 90, 150 10, 50, 90 5, 10, 15 Comp., RT, 60, 90, 150 10, 50, 90 5, 10, 15 Out of Plane Comp., Axial RT, 60, 90, 150 10, 50, 90 5, 10, 15 In this table, Comp. is Compression, Out of Plane refers to the thickness or z-direction, and RT is room temperature (about 22 C.-24 C.). As to the thermal conditions, the material may be permitted to equilibrate at the desired temperature (RT, 60 C., 90 C., or 150 C.) before the measurements are taken. As to the moisture conditions, this method described above may be used to obtain the desired moisture content. As to the measurements themselves, these may be taken at regular time intervals once the material has been permitted to equilibrate at the desired temperature and moisture, for a total elapsed time of 60 seconds. Alternatively, elapsed times other than 60 seconds may be used. Preferably, a fresh sample may be used at each level of temperature, moisture or strain.

Based on the foregoing, a general form of a constitutive model with one or more behaviors may be defined. For example, the model may include the following behaviors: viscoelasticity, viscoplasticity, thermal dependency, moisture dependency, compaction (densification) and damage. Based on these behaviors, a set of coupled, nonlinear partial differential equations may be assembled, which equations may be solved numerically (by return mapping or cutting plane algorithms, for example) to determine the state of stress for an arbitrary deformation path.

According to one embodiment, the model may include, for example, equations relating stress and deformation or stress rate and rate of deformation, which equations may be further refined to account for viscoelasticity. The model may also include equations defining a yield criterion that delineates the elastic and plastic regions in stress space. Further, the model may include equations defining a plastic flow rule, which determines the amount of plastic deformation. Further, evolution equations may be included in the model.

Starting with the equations relating stress and deformation or stress rate and rate of deformation, while the present disclosure should not be limited to one approach or the other, it is believed that the relation between stress rate and rate of deformation may be easier to address, both theoretically and numerically. Such a relation between rates may be referred to as a hypoelastic law, and where, as here, the focus is on finite deformation, the law may be cast in terms of an objective stress rate to satisfy the objectivity requirement. For example, the Corrotational rate may be used.

Deformation may be expressed as the additive decomposition of a second order rate-of deformation-tensor, or: {tilde over (D)}={tilde over (D)} ^(e) +{tilde over (D)} ^(P) +{tilde over (D)} ^(T) +{tilde over (D)} ^(M) where {tilde over (D)} is the rate-of-deformation tensor, which may be considered equivalent to strain rate in the infinitesimal strain case, and {tilde over (D)}^(e),{tilde over (D)}^(P),{tilde over (D)}^(T), and {tilde over (D)}^(M) are the elastic, plastic, thermal and moisture components of the rate-of-deformation tensor, {tilde over (D)}. Further, the thermal and moisture components, {tilde over (D)}^(T) and {tilde over (D)}^(M), may be expressed as general functions, ƒ and g, respectively, which functions may include matrices of expansion and coupling coefficients, or {tilde over (D)}^(T)=ƒ(T_(ref),T,{dot over (T)}) and {tilde over (D)}^(M)=g(T_(ref),M,{dot over (M)}).

Having defined deformation, the stress rate relation may be expressed as: {tilde over (σ)}^(∇) ={tilde over (M)} ⁻¹ :{tilde over (C)}:{tilde over (D)} ^(e) ={tilde over (M)} ⁻¹ :{tilde over (C)}:({tilde over (D)}−{tilde over (D)} ^(P) −{tilde over (D)} ^(T) −{tilde over (D)} ^(M)) where {tilde over (σ)}^(∇) is the objective rate of the stress tensor, {tilde over (M)} is the damage effect tensor, and {tilde over (C)} is the stiffness matrix. The damage effect tensor would be a fourth order tensor for complete anisotropy, whereas the damage effect tensor would be a scalar for isotropic damage; according an embodiment of the present disclosure, isotropic damage that includes a tension cut-off may be used. The stiffness matrix may be a function of temperature, moisture and stress. To account for viscoelasticity, the stress rate may be expressed as: {tilde over (σ)}(t)={tilde over (σ)}°(t)−Σ{tilde over (q)} _(k) where {tilde over (σ)}(t) is the final rate dependent response of the material at time t, {tilde over (σ)}°(t) is the instantaneous response of the material at time t determined from the integration of the equation for {tilde over (σ)}^(∇), above, and Σ{tilde over (q)}_(k) is a series of viscoelastic relaxations, where each term is a solution to the following differential equation:

${\frac{\partial{\overset{\sim}{q}}_{k}}{\partial t} + {\frac{1}{\tau_{k}}{\overset{\sim}{q}}_{k}}} = {\frac{\gamma_{k}}{\tau_{k}}\overset{\sim}{\sigma}{{^\circ}(t)}}$ with γ being a relaxation parameter and τ being the time constant.

Having thus defined the relation between stress rate and rate of deformation, the yield criterion may also be defined. According to one embodiment, the yield may be defined as a superposition of individual yield criteria: ƒ=Σƒ_(i) =ΣY _(i)({tilde over (σ)}−{tilde over (X)},R) where Y_(i) is the functional form of the yield, {tilde over (X)} is back stress tensor, kinematic hardening metric, and R is the isotropic hardening factor. {tilde over (X)} may itself be expressed as {tilde over (K)}:{tilde over (α)}, where {tilde over (α)} is the back strain tensor. Additionally, R may be expressed as R^(A)+R^(B), where R^(A) is the metric of yield surface size and R^(B) is the coupling term with the back stresses (or ƒ({tilde over (X)}²)).

Further, a flow rule may be defined. The flow rule, which may determine the amount of plastic deformation, may be given as: {tilde over (D)} ^(P) =Σ{tilde over (H)} _(i){dot over (λ)}_(i) ñ _(i) where {tilde over (H)}_(i) is a model-dependent homogenization term, λ_(i) is a scalar metric of plastic strain, and ñ_(i) is the normal to yield surface. ñ_(i) may be expressed as:

$\frac{\partial f_{i}}{\partial\overset{\sim}{\sigma}}$ where ƒ is the yield criterion and {tilde over (σ)} is stress. Thus, the “i” subscript simply indicates that it is a term in a series, and does not reference a tensorial direction. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, λ_(i) may take the form of a Norton or hyperbolic sine creep law to account for rate dependent plasticity, although it will be recognized that other creep laws may be used.

In addition, evolution equations may be defined. In particular, the evolution may be kinematic hardening evolution, formulated as a modification of the standard Armstrong-Fredrick kinematic hardening model to include non-symmetric compressive loading and unloading behavior (i.e., the back and forth motion of the kinematic variables). Thus, the material parameter matrices may be related as: {tilde over ({dot over (α)}={tilde over (B)}{tilde over (D)} ^(P) −{dot over (λ)}Ñ{tilde over (α)} (loading), and {tilde over ({dot over (α)}={tilde over (B)}′{tilde over (D)} ^(P) −{dot over (λ)}Ñ′{tilde over (α)} (unloading) With respect to the above equations, loading is characterized as Sign({tilde over (α)})=Sign({tilde over (D)}^(P)). Otherwise unloading conditions are assumed. Relative density, d, which enters into the damage effect tensor and is related to the Jacobian of the deformation tensor, is described by the integration of the following: {dot over (d)}=(1−d)∫Tr[{tilde over (D)} ^(P) ]dt

With the model thus defined, simulations may be performed using the model, and a determination may be made, in a general sense, as to whether the model is appropriate. If not, adjustments may be made, for example, through the introduction of additional behaviors and/or couplings. Even if the model produces results that suggest that the model has included behaviors and couplings to represent the material in a general sense, it may be desired to further refine the model. That is, results of simulations conducted using the model may be compared against the test results gathered during the testing phase to determine if variations are required to the model, as opposed to incorporation of additional behaviors, for example. For example, the variations, in the form of coefficients, may be introduced into the deformation equation through the thermal and moisture components, {tilde over (D)}^(T) and {tilde over (D)}^(M). This phase also may be an iterative process, in that simulations may suggest modifications, with further testing performed as a consequence.

Thus, as represented in FIG. 5, the modeling method 200 for a tampon product starts at block 202, where the above-mentioned processes and conditions may be analyzed to determine conditions for further testing. In this consideration, it may be determined that moisture, temperature and processing rate may have an effect, and should be tested. From this, consideration, one or more test matrices may be prepared to guide the testing. As is suggested by blocks 204, 206, 208, 210, the testing as to mechanical properties (stress, strain), moisture, temperature and rate may be conducted in no particular order, and may in fact be conducted simultaneously.

The method 200 continues at block 212 with the definition of the model. The model may be a constitutive model in the form of a set of coupled, nonlinear partial differential equations, as explained in greater detail above. In the process of formulating the model, or even after certain preliminary selections have been made of equations to be included in the set that defines the model, it may be determined, as reflected at block 214, that additional tests are required. For example, it may be determined, after performing simulations using the model formulated at block 212, that additional test results are required as to the conditions previously tested, or may even suggest the inclusion of conditions not previously included at blocks 206, 208, 210.

Even if the model is determined to be acceptable in a general sense, the method 200 may continue to block 216, wherein variations are considered for the model such that simulations run using the model have a higher degree of agreement with the test results. As noted above, the variations represent the functional relationships between temperature, rate, and moisture and the thermal and moisture components of the rate-of-deformation tensor. Other variations are possible. Even after variations are proposed, the method 200 may continue to block 218, wherein it is determined if the model, as modified, is acceptable. If the model is not acceptable, further testing may be conducted at blocks 204, 206, 208, 210. If the model it acceptable, then the modeling method may be ended.

From the more specific method 200, a general method 300 for the modeling of a material that is made into product may now be discussed relative to FIG. 6.

The general method 300 may be used for any of a variety of articles or products, including the tampon product discussed in above as an exemplary embodiment. The method 300 may, however, be used for flat sheets and other finished geometries besides the tampon product. For example, the starting material need not be in the form of a flat sheet. Likewise, the method 300 may be used for modeling materials to be made into feminine hygiene products, in a general sense. For that matter, the method 300 may be used for modeling materials to be made into absorbent articles, regardless of their specific function or use. In this regard, the articles may be diapers, training pants, etc.

Nor is the method 300 only limited in its usefulness to fibrous materials, but may be useful for foam and other materials as well. Moreover, the method 300 may be used with materials that have a homogeneous composition, or a heterogeneous composition where the aggregate macroscale constitutive response is of interest. Further, the materials may refer to an assembly of individual materials, which assembly may be in the form of a composite or a laminate, for example, in which case it may be necessary to define more than one constitutive model or to use homogenization techniques. An assembly of materials may also be defined by individual materials that are joined, coupled or grouped together in some fashion other than permanent or semi-permanent bonding, through the use of an adhesive or resin, for example.

The method 300 begins at a block 302, wherein the product which will be made from the material and the product's method of manufacture are analyzed to define the conditions under which the product is used, formed, assembled, etc.: i.e., the processing conditions. Included within this analysis may be use of the product, from which product-driven or product-performance-driven conditions may be derived. Also included within this analysis is consideration of the processes or activities that are used to form the product. For instance, consideration may be given as to whether the material is cut or punched, folded or rolled, compressed or expanded, etc. Further, consideration may be given as to whether these activities are conducted at constant environmental conditions (temperature, moisture, etc.) or process conditions (speed, rate, force, etc.), or if the environmental conditions or process conditions vary over time. Consideration may also be given as to the order of the process steps or activities. Still other factors may be considered as well.

The method 300 then proceeds to a block 304. At the block 304, testing is conducted and measurements are made at the various conditions defined at block 302. For example, the mechanical properties of the material, such as stress and strain, may be measured with the material in tension, compression or shear. For that matter, measurements may be made over a range of temperatures, moisture levels, strain rates, etc., according to the conditions defined in block 302. A test matrix may be formed, as is explained above, to assist in organizing the testing to provide a suitable set of measurements for further analysis.

The method 300 may then pass to a block 306. Reviewing the measurements made at block 304, the model is initially formulated according to the measurements. For example, according to the measurements, viscoplastic, viscoelastic, elastic, yielding, yield hardening, failure/damage or other behavior may be defined for the model. Isotropic, anisotropic and orthotropic behaviors may also be defined. Some other exemplary considerations may include: cyclic compression, cyclic shear, cyclic tensile, monotonic compression, monotonic shear, monotonic tensile, cyclic triaxial compression, monotonic triaxial compression, volumetric moisture expansion, linear moisture expansion, poisson ratio, compression relaxation, shear relaxation, tensile relaxation, shear creep, compression creep, tensile creep, monotonic compression, a partial relaxation and reload, linear thermal expansion, volumetric thermal expansion, or combinations thereof. After the model is formulated, additional tests may be performed, if necessary, as determined at block 308.

At block 310, variations may be defined for the model defined at block 306. For instance, a coefficient or other variation may be added, adjusted or removed according to a comparison of the results of a simulation performed using the model defined at block 306 and the test results determined at block 304. After deriving any variations suggested by the test results at block 310, the method 310 proceeds to block 312, wherein it is determined if the model is acceptable. If the model is not acceptable, the method 300 may return to blocks 304 and 306 for additional testing and/or model definition. If the model is acceptable, the method 300 may end.

Turning now to FIG. 7, a system 400 is provided for utilizing the models defined by the methods 200 and 300. In particular, the system 400 includes computing device 402, such as a computer. However, this is merely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, for the computing device 402 may include a workstation, Linux machine, or any other computing device.

The computing device 402 may include one or more processors 404, which may themselves include one or more logical and/or physical processors. The processor 404 may be operatively coupled, via a bus 406, for example, to a memory/data storage medium 408. The computing device 402 may also be coupled to a display unit 410 (such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD) or any other type of display unit) and a keyboard 412 or other input device.

Although the processor 404 and the memory/data storage device 408 are illustrated as internal to the computing device 402, the devices need not be located in the same physical space or physically-proximate to each other. Moreover, the data storage device 408 may include a data storage medium interface (e.g., a magnetic disk drive, a compact disk (CD) drive or a digital versatile disk drive (DVD) and an associated data storage medium (e.g., a magnetic disk, a CD or a DVD). In fact, the data storage device 408 may be in the form of any machine-accessible medium.

A machine accessible medium includes any mechanism that provides (i.e., stores and/or transmits) information in a form accessible by a machine (e.g., a computer, workstation, Linux device, network device, manufacturing tool, any device with a set of one or more processors, etc.). For example, a machine accessible medium includes recordable/non-recordable magnetic, optical and solid-state media (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, etc.), as well as electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc). Stored in the data storage device 408 and executable by the processor 404 may be a model, as defined above, and a code, which performs the numerical solution of the model.

Thus, in this fashion, the model as defined according to the methods provided above in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be carried out by the system of FIG. 7.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

1. A modeling method for a fibrous material to be made into a tampon product, the modeling method comprising: analyzing processes and conditions under which the fibrous material is made into the tampon product; determining that moisture, temperature and rate conditions should be tested according to the analysis of the processes and conditions; testing the fibrous material under at least one of moisture, thermal or rate conditions similar to those under which the fibrous material is made into the tampon product to obtain test results; defining a constitutive model for the fibrous material using test results to identify behaviors and assembling a set of coupled non-linear partial differential equations that describe the behaviors; and providing a computing device to utilize the defined constitutive model for the fibrous material.
 2. The modeling method according to claim 1, wherein testing the fibrous material under at least one of moisture, temperature and rate conditions comprises: if moisture, testing the fibrous material at moisture conditions of between about 5% and about 15% moisture content, on a dry weight basis; if temperature, testing the fibrous material at thermal conditions of between 20 C and 200 C.
 3. The modeling method according to claim 2, wherein testing the fibrous material comprises testing the fibrous material in at least one of compression, shear, and tension.
 4. The modeling method according to claim 1, wherein defining the constitutive model comprises including at least one of the following behaviors: elasticity, viscoelasticity, viscoplasticity, thermal dependency, moisture dependency, compaction (densification) or damage.
 5. The modeling method according to claim 4, wherein defining the constitutive model comprises: defining a relationship between one of stress and deformation or stress rate and rate of deformation; defining a yield criterion; defining a plastic flow rule; and defining an evolution equation.
 6. The modeling method according to claim 5, wherein defining the constitutive model comprises defining a relationship between stress rate and rate of deformation.
 7. The modeling method according to claim 1, wherein defining the constitutive model comprises considering at least one of cyclic compression, cyclic shear, cyclic tension, monotonic compression, monotonic shear, monotonic tension, cyclic triaxial compression, monotonic triaxial compression, volumetric moisture expansion, linear moisture expansion, poisson ratio, compression relaxation, shear relaxation, tensile relaxation, shear creep, compression creep, tensile creep, monotonic compression, partial relaxation and reload, linear thermal expansion, volumetric thermal expansion, or combinations thereof.
 8. The modeling method according to claim 1, comprising: performing simulations using the constitutive model; determining that additional test results are required according to the simulations performed; testing the fibrous material under at least one of moisture, temperature and rate conditions similar to those under which the fibrous material is made into the tampon product to obtain the additional test results; and defining a refined constitutive model according to the additional test results.
 9. The modeling method according to claim 1, comprising: performing simulations using the constitutive model; comparing the simulations to the test results; and defining variations to the constitutive model according to the comparisons.
 10. The modeling method according to claim 1, comprising: performing simulations using the constitutive model; and determining that the constitutive model is acceptable.
 11. A modeling method for a material to be made into a product, the modeling method comprising: analyzing processes and conditions under which the material is made into the product; determining test environmental conditions under which the material should be tested according to the analysis of the processes and conditions; testing the material under test environmental conditions to obtain test results; defining a constitutive model for the material using test results to identify behaviors and assembling a set of coupled non-linear partial differential equations that describe the behaviors; and providing a computing device to utilize the defined constitutive model for the fibrous material.
 12. The modeling method according to claim 11, wherein testing the material comprises testing the material in at least one of compression, shear, and tension.
 13. The modeling method according to claim 11, wherein defining the constitutive model comprises including at least one of the following behaviors: elasticity, viscoelasticity, viscoplasticity, thermal dependency, moisture dependency, compaction (densification) or damage.
 14. The modeling method according to claim 13, wherein defining the constitutive model comprises: defining a relationship between one of stress and deformation or stress rate and rate of deformation; defining a yield criterion; defining a plastic flow rule; and defining an evolution equation.
 15. The modeling method according to claim 14, wherein defining the constitutive model comprises defining a relationship between stress rate and rate of deformation.
 16. The modeling method according to claim 11, wherein defining the constitutive model comprises considering at least one of cyclic compression, cyclic shear, cyclic tension, monotonic compression, monotonic shear, monotonic tension, cyclic triaxial compression, monotonic triaxial compression, volumetric moisture expansion, linear moisture expansion, poisson ratio, compression relaxation, shear relaxation, tensile relaxation, shear creep, compression creep, tensile creep, monotonic compression, partial relaxation and reload, linear thermal expansion, volumetric thermal expansion, or combinations thereof.
 17. The modeling method according to claim 11, comprising: performing simulations using the constitutive model; determining that additional test results are required according to the simulations performed; testing the material under test environmental conditions to obtain the additional test results; and defining a refined constitutive model according to the additional test results.
 18. The modeling method according to claim 11, comprising: performing simulations using the constitutive model; comparing the simulations to the test results; and defining variations to the constitutive model according to the comparisons.
 19. The modeling method according to claim 11, comprising: performing simulations using the constitutive model; and determining that the constitutive model is acceptable. 